West Bank Water

December 1, 2011

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1. Jordan River

river jordan
flowing wide
diverted
west
to sea
south
to desert
leaving
bed
of roasted
shit

2. Olive Trees

occupied
olive trees
not already
dead
need a drink
so do i
and a
shower
and clean
clothes i
can’t have
but am
encouraged
settlers grow
much green
grass

3. Giving

don’t
claim
settlers
give
nothing
they
give
their
waste

4. Aquifers

most water
beneath
our land
somehow
belongs
to them
and they
sell
to us

5. Cisterns

since
cisterns from
our ground
theirs
why
necessary
to destroy
eternal
collectors of
heavenly
gifts

Source: “Drip, Jordan” by Ben Ehrenreich in Harper’s December 2011

George Thomas Clark

George Thomas Clark is the author of Hitler Here, a biographical novel published in India and the Czech Republic as well as the United States. His commentaries for GeorgeThomasClark.com are read in more than 50 countries a month.

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